Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Review

December 23, 2007 at 3:52 pm · Filed under Compact Camera

The DMC-TZ3 has been given a more luxurious touch with its stylish design and metallic, stainless steel exterior. The DMC-TZ3 features a 28mm wide-angle 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens (equivalent to a 28mm-280mm zoom on a 35mm film camera) in an ultra-compact body. With the high-power 10x optical zoom, you can get clear and beautiful shots even when you can’t get close to your subject. The 28mm wide-angle lens lets you easily capture large groups of people indoor or expansive architectural structures and scenes. The 10x optical zoom lets you easily capture and magnify distant subjects. 3.0-inch Polycrystalline TFT LCD (230 K Pixels) Field of View - 100% Power LCD Mode, High Angle Mode ISO Sensitivity - Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1250 (High Sensitivity Mode - 3200) Li-ion Battery Life (3.7 V, 1,000 mAh) - 270 pictures Shutter Speed - 8 - 1/2000 seconds Starry Sky Mode - 15, 30 & 60 seconds Wide Aperture - F3.3 / F8.0 (2 steps) Tele Aperture - F4.9 / F11 (2 steps) Self-Timer - 2 & 10 seconds Scene Mode - Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Self-portrait, Food, Party, Candle, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Beach, Aerial Photo, Snow, High Sensitivity, Baby1, Baby2, Underwater, Sunset and Pet Dimensions - Width 4.20 x Height 2.37 x Depth 1.47 inch (105.0 x 59.2 x 36.7 mm) Weight - 257 grams with Battery and SD Memory Card (0.57 pounds)

TZ3 (and TZ2) vs TZ1: Key changes

As is the case with most of Panasonic’s Lumix models the TZ1 is available in either silver or black (though this may not be the case for every country and / or every retailer).

  • Wider (and shorter) 28-280mm (equiv.) lens range (TZ1 was 35-350mm)
  • Built in lens cover (TZ1 had a lens cap)
  • Smaller and lighter camera
  • Increased sensor resolution (TZ3: 7MP, TZ2: 6MP, TZ1: 5MP)
  • Larger 3.0-inch screen (TZ3 only)
  • Intelligent ISO mode
  • Clipboard function
  • ISO 1250 at full size (TZ1 was ‘only’ ISO 800), High Sensitivity mode now to ISO 3200
  • White balance adjustment and extra ‘Shade’ WB preset
  • Slightly improved burst mode (TZ3 only)
  • Slightly better battery life

    • DMC-TZ3 specifications

    Street price • $219.99 (DEC 2007)
    Body Material Metal
    Sensor • 1/2.35 ” Type CCD
    • 8.50 million pixels total
    • 7.2 million effective pixels
    Image sizes • 3072 x 2304
    • 2560 x 1920
    • 2048 x 1536
    • 1600 x 1200
    • 1280 x 960
    • 640 x 480
    • 3216 x 2144 (3:2)
    • 2560 x 1712 (3:2)
    • 2048 x 1360 (3:2)
    • 3328 x 1872 (16:9)
    • 2560 x 1440 (16:9)
    • 1920 x 1080 (16:9)
    Movie clips • 640 x 480 @ 30 / 10fps
    • 320 x 240 @ 30 / 10 fps
    • 848 x 480 @ 30 / 10 fps (16:9)
    • recording time depends on Memory Card capacity
    • with sound
    File formats • JPEG (Exif 2.21)
    • DPOF
    • QuickTime Motion JPEG
    Lens • 28-280mm (35mm equiv)
    • 10x optical zoom
    • LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR
    Image stabilization MEGA OIS: mode 1 / 2
    Conversion lenses None
    Digital zoom Extra optical zoom (4:3: 12x for 5MP, 15x for 3, 2, 1, 0.3MP, 3:2: 12.6x for 4.5MP, 15x for 2.5MP, 16:9: 13x for 3.5MP, 15x for 2MP)
    Focus • Auto Focus system
    • Normal / Macro (dial)
    • Continuous AF on / off
    AF area modes • 1 / 9 point
    • 1 / 3 point high speed
    • Spot
    AF assist lamp Yes
    Focus distance • Normal: 50cm - infinity (wide) / 200cm - infinity (tele)
    • Macro / Simple mode / Intelligent ISO / Motion picture / Clipboard : 5cm - infinity (wide) / 200cm - infinity Tele (except tele end)
    • 100cm - infinity (Tele Macro at tele end)
    Metering • Intelligent Multiple
    • Center weighted
    • Spot
    ISO sensitivity • Auto
    • ISO 100
    • ISO 200
    • ISO 400
    • ISO 800
    • ISO 1250
    • High Sensitivity mode ISO 3200
    Exposure compensation • +/- 2EV
    • 1/3 EV steps
    Exposure bracketing • +/- 1/3EV -1EV
    • 3 frames
    Shutter speed • 8-1/2000 sec
    • Starry Sky Mode: 15, 30, 60sec
    Aperture F3.3 / 8.0 (Wide: 2 steps) F4.9 / 11 (Tele: 2 steps)
    Modes • Program AE
    • Simple
    • Normal picture
    • Macro
    • SCN1, SCN2
    • Intelligent ISO
    Scene modes • Portrait
    • Soft Skin
    • Scenery
    • Sports
    • Night Portrait
    • Night Scenery
    • Self Portrait
    • Food
    • Party
    • Candle
    • Fireworks
    • Starry Sky
    • Beach
    • Aerial photo
    • Snow
    • High Sensitivity
    • Baby 1 & 2
    • Underwater
    • Sunset
    • Pet
    White balance • Auto
    • Daylight
    • Cloudy
    • Shade
    • Halogen
    • White Set
    • White balance fine tune (+/- 1500k in 150k steps)
    Self timer • 10 or 2 secs
    Continuous shooting • Full-Resolution Image, 3 frames/sec or 2 frames/sec
    Image parameters Standard, Vivid, Cool, Warm, Natural, Black & White, Sepia
    Flash • Auto
    • Auto/Red-eye reduction
    • Forced On
    • Slow Sync/Red-eye reduction
    • Forced Off
    • Range: 0.6 - 4.2m (wide) 1.0 - 2.8m (tele)
    Viewfinder None
    LCD monitor • 3.0-inch Polycrystalline TFT
    • 230,000 pixels
    • Field of view 100%
    Connectivity • USB
    • DC in
    • AV out
    Print compliance PictBridge
    Storage • 12.7MB built-in memory
    • SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible
    Power • Li-ion battery pack
    • Optional AC adapter
    Weight (excl batt) 232 g (0.51lb)
    Dimensions 105 x 59.2 x 36.7 mm (4.20 x 2.37 x 1.47 in)

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